It's Christmas Eve

Christmas is coming, the geese are getting fat, please put a penny......and so on......What is this all about???? Yes, I know – Baby Jesus and all that. But all I can see is people hurrying and scurrying around, looking frazzled – and pushing shopping trolleys absolutely laden with – with what? Mostly crap! Oh, I am cynical! But I had a trip to a shopping centre (on Sunday! Sunday !! Remember when shops weren’t allowed to open on Sundays?) Well, I went to the shops, because I wanted to buy my daughter some candles. I made sure I was there by 9am, so that I would avoid the crowds.....but, not so! People were queuing up outside shops - and there was a long line ready for Santa photos (!) and it was awful! By the time I found the candles (candle holders, actually) there were hundreds of people swarming all over the place and cars looking for parking spots...and......... aarrgghh!!
Well, that’s Christmas here – more or less.

While I’m doing a little whinge, I would like to take this opportunity to ask – as are many other Australians asking – why are we hearing and singing Christmas songs such as “I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas” and “Winter Wonderland”? It’s 30 degrees Celsius here today and it’s Christmas Eve.
Where is all the snow?  Most of us are planning trips to the beach for some swimming and surfing and other activities to cool us down.  

The other night I suffered through some fairly ordinary performances on a Christmas Carol local show that was airing on television.
There was Santa Claus, dressed for the snow (poor bloke must have been sweating bucket loads) and a few mediocre musicians, but I knew a talented singer was to appear soon, so I waited for Dami Im, who has a beautiful voice – trained for opera but also more than competent at singing modern songs. I thought she may sing a Christmas carol or some lovely appropriate Christmas song. As she sat at the piano (yes, she also plays piano extremely well) I waited to see what delightful song she had chosen.
And then she started: “Chestnuts roasting by an open fire….”
I turned off the tv.

Anyway, there are my two main whinges for the Christmas season:  Consumerism and inappropriate snow.
So sorry that I am complaining.
There is nothing for me to really complain about. I will have a lovely Christmas Day, with family members. Those who are not here with me will either phone or use the magic of ‘Face Time’ to connect.  

It’s been a sad time for many over the past year and especially the past week or so. And it has been a truly miserable time for asylum seekers.
Australia is not immune from disaster or terror and our current government is showing us just how cruel those in power can be towards the weak and vulnerable, so it’s not always a happy place.
However, as for me, I cannot -  and must not -  complain.
I live in one of the best countries in the world and have a loving family.
I am in need of nothing and for that I give thanks.  

I wish everyone a joyous Christmas and a very happy, healthy and safe 2015.